Video amplifier for a color television apparatus

ABSTRACT

A video amplifier for a color television monitor apparatus or the like is disclosed, wherein the DC level and the gain thereof are automatically adjusted by interposing respectively a black reference pulse and a white reference pulse during the horizontal blanking period of the composite video signal as a pilot signal. The black reference pulse has a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the cut-off voltage of a cathode ray tube. The white reference pulse varies in amplitude according to the setting of the contrast control.

United States Patent n91 Kong [ Sept. 18, 1973 VIDEO AMPLIFIER FOR A COLOR TELEVISION APPARATUS 3,483,318 I2/l969 lwai et al. l78/6.6 A

Primary Examiner-Richard Murray [75] lnventoi': Victor Kong, Beaverton, Oreg.

AttorneyAdrian J. Larue [73] Assignee: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, Oreg.

[22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1971 57 ABSTRACT PP'- NW 6 A video amplifier for a color television monitor apparatus or the like is disclosed, wherein the DC level and 52 us. Cl. 178/5.4 R, l78/7.3 R F "W are aummafica'iy adjusted by [5 l] H04 9/12 mg respectively a black reference pulse and a white ref- [58] Field of Search l78/5.4 R, 7.3 R, Puls? *F blaE'lkmg Pemd 178/75 R 66 A the composite video signal as a pilot signal. The black reference pulse has a predetermined amplitude corre- [56] References Cited sponding to the cut-off voltage of a cathode ray tube. The white reference pulse varies in amplitude accord- 3 204 027 2 :15 ZT PATENTS 8/7 3 R ing to the setting of the contrast control.

9 ements l7 3,597,540 8/1971 Maclntyre, Jr 178/73 R 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 58 Jose 1 l 24 Z-L 7 F 25 56; A157 3 osciLtATo+ COUNTER q I r 32 62 -60 52 I i w P? COMP SAMPLER 1 as so l 64 54; 50 l Ebtfi Psi... I R GENERATOR I SAMPLER DIVIDER l I assess I. 1 l is r I ll 40 l 2 46 48 CURRENT SUMMING anew AGC 3;? *f a ffggk 3%? W J 84 i6 i L I 5 84H" fl 48' l .J ,-l6 eq'l '1 l ,4

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CURRENT SUMMING RCUIT Fig-4 mvemon'. VlQTOR KOHNG BY: eda Q1 ATTORNEY VIDEO AMPLIFIER FOR A COLOR TELEVISION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a video amplifier for a color televisionpicture monitor apparatus or the like employing preferably a Trinitron cathode ray tube, wherein each of three identical video amplifiers is precisely controlled in the DC level and the gain so that the optimum picture will be reproduced.

In a color television receiver or a monitor apparatus, there are employed three video output amplifiers for modulating electron beams emitted from red, geeen and blue electron guns according to the input video signal. These three electron beams bombard red, green and blue phosphor dots or lines, respectively for reproducing a color picture on a phosphor screen of a cathode ray tube. It is frequently necessary to control brightness and contrast of the reproduced picture in order to obtain the optimum picture under different ambient conditions. The brightness is a function of the DC level of the signal from these video amplifiers or the visual perception of the average background illumination of the screen. The contrast is the ratio between the background portion and the bright portion and determined by the gain of the amplifiers.

The DC level and the gain of each video output amplifier must change proportionally to those of the other amplifiers in order to maintain the optimum color balance and gray scale tracking. Especially, this is necessary for a Trinitron cathode ray tube in which all grid electrodes of three electron guns are commonly connected to the ground level and a certain negative level during the unblanking and blanking period of the cathode ray tube, respectively. This type of cathode ray tube has differences in electrical characteristics such, for example, as the cut-off voltage and conductance of the electron guns thereof.

Hitherto, a pair of controls, each having three ganged identical potentiometers, are employed for the brightness and contrast controls for respectively controlling the DC level and gain of these amplifiers. This arrangement results in incorrect color balance and gray scale tracking because of nonlinearity and differences of electrical characteristics among these three potentiometers as well as noise and signal delay due to routing the high frequency video signal to these controls normally provided on the front panel. Moreover, there is interaction between the brightness and the contrast controls. An alternative circuit as disclosed in The Radio and Electronic Engineer, May, 1969 at pages 299-302 has been proposed for eliminating some of the disadvantages of the abovementioned arrangement, wherein a white reference pulse is interposed at the latter half of the back porch of the composite video signal for controlling the gain of the video output amplifiers. The back porch level is used as a black reference level for controlling the DC level of the video output amplifiers. However, the back porch level of the composite video signal changes depending on the setting of the brightness control, and the brightness and contrast control circuit is very complicated. Moreover, the circuit only works on the unmodulated video signal because of utilizing'the back porch clamped. Any video signal from a decorder will introduce error due to the DC level shift during the burst time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the black reference pulse and the white reference pulse are respectively inserted into the former and latter halves of the horizontal blanking period and sampled at the output of each amplifier for controlling respectively the quiescent DC level and the gain of each amplifier. Accordingly, the black and white reference pulses have longer time duration to make the circuit less complicated and more precise.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved video output amplifier whose quiescent DC level and gain can automatically be adjusted by the pilot signal interposed into horizontal blanking period.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a video amplifier for a color television apparatus having an accurate gray scale tracking characteristic.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a video amplifier of less power consumption.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a video amplifier wherein the brightness and contrast can be adjusted precisely without interaction.

The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the following description. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein iike references characters refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a video output waveform applied to a cathode of a cathode ray tube; FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one example of a video amplifier according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of an important part of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of another important part of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is one example of a video signal at the output terminal of the amplifier having a black reference pulse 11, and a white reference pulse 12 interposed into the horizontal blanking period. The horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents signal amplitude. Video information 10 is transmitted during the time to-tl when a cathode ray tube (not shown) is unblanked. The retrace period tl-tS is normally used to transmit a SYNC pulse and a color burst signal for synchronizing a horizontal scanning and a color demodulator respectively, which is normally blanked by applying a negative pulse to the common grid of the electron guns to that no signal during the retrace period tl-t5 can be observed. The black reference pulse 11 and the white reference pulse 12 inserted into the retrace period have respectively an amplitude -vo which correspond to a fixed cut-off level of each electron gun of the cathode ray tube and a controllable amplitude v2 which changes depending on the setting of a contrast control. The level vl represents the background illumination of the screen where no video signal is transmitted and changes depending on the setting of a brightness control. The black reference pulse 11 and the white reference pulse 12 are generated by black and white reference pulse generators respectively whose detailed operation will be made hereinafter together with the circuit thereof referring to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. The video amplifier consists of a brightness and contrast control circuit 13, and three identical video output amplifiers 14, 15 and 16 for amplifying three video signal components which are applied to the cathode of red, green and blue electron guns of the cathode ray tube respectively. Only one video output amplifier 14 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. The red, green and blue video signals are applied to terminals l8, l8 and 18" of a current summing circuit 20. A gate pulse derived from a horizontal deflection circuit for the cathode ray tube (not shown) is applied to a terminal 22 for actuating an oscillator 24 of conventional design which produces output pulses of, for example, one megahertz in synchronism with the horizontal retrace pulse. A counter 26, including a plurality of conventional counter stages, counts pulses produced from the oscillator 24. When the counter 26 counts a predetermined number, a black reference pulse generator 28 produces a gate pulse which will strip out any video signal during the period t2-t4. During the period t2-t3, a black reference pulse 1 l is generated whose amplitude is a fixed value regardless of the setting of the brightness and contrast controls. The black reference pulse generator 28 is then connected to the current summing circuit 20.

Following the black reference pulse, a white reference pulse generator 30 produces a white reference pulse 12 whose amplitude can be controlled by a contrast control circuit 32 including, for example, a potentiometer. The white reference pulse generator 30 ,is connected to the current summing circuit 20. A brightness control crrcuit 34 is connected to the white reference pulse generator 30 for supplying a brightness control DC current to the current summing circuit during the unblanking period. Although the detailed description of the circuit will be made hereinafter referring to FIG. 3, the brightness control signal is automatically controlled by the setting of the contrast control 32 because the brightness control range is directly proportional to the setting of the contrast control 32. Thus, this circuit arrangement eliminates the interaction between the contrast control 32 and the brightness control 34.

As it will be clear from FIG. 1, the current summing circuit 20 superimposes the brightness control DC current from the brightness control circuit 34 with each color video signal applied to the terminals 18, 18' and 18" during the unblanking period to-tl and substantially the black reference pulse 11 and the white reference pulse 12 are transmitted during the blanking period tl-t5. It should be noted that these three color video signals are translated in the current summing FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of one preferred embodiment of the DC level and gain control circuit. The AGC circuit 40 consists of a pair of diodes 172 and 174 whose anodes are coupled together with each other to the output terminal 84 of the current summing circuit 20. The diode 172 is connected to the input terminal of thefirst amplifier 42 and the diode 174 is connected to ground. The output video signal from the current summing circuit 20 and the otuput from the comparator 60 are connected to the common junction of the diodes 172 and 174 directly and through a resistor 176 respectively. The first amplifier 42 includes, for example, three DC coupled transistors 178, 180 and 182, The first amplifier 42 i a high open loop gain amplifier having a negative feedback resistor 184 connected between the collector of the transistor 180 and the emitter of the transistor 178. The emitter and collector of the transistor 178 are connected to resistors 186 and 188 respectively. The collector of the transistor 180 is connected to a suitable positive voltage source through a resistor 190. The collector of the grounded base transistor 182 is connected to an output terminal of the first amplifier 42 through a resistor 192.

The output from the comparator 64 is connected to the base of the transistor 178, and the base thereof is also returned to ground through serially-connected resistor 194 and diode 196. The common connection of the resistor 194 and the diode 196 is also connected to the output comparator 60 through a resistor 198 which is the same as the resistor 176. This ensures the correct operation of the first amplifier 42 so that the background signal level or the brightness remains unchanged while changing the contrast of the reproduced picture. Similarly, a pair of identical diodes should be used for the diodes 172 and 174. The output from the collector of the transistor 182 is then applied to the second amplifier 46 through the current limiter 44.

As the first amplifier 42 is a negative feedback amplifier, the current through the diode 172 is maintained at a substantially constant value. Thus, the resistance of the diode 172 is a constant value. On the other hand, the resistance of the diode 174 varies by the current therethrough mainly supplied from the comparator 60. If a gain control current from the comparator 60 in creases by adjusting the contrast control potentiometer in FIG. 3, the resistance of the diode 174 decreases and bypasses the signal current from the current summing circuit 20 and vice versa. This decreases the gain of the AGC circuit 40 and, in turn, the overall gain of each video amplifier 14, 15 or 16. Although it is not shown in FIG. 4, the second amplifier 46 is a currentto-voltage converter for producing the output voltage to drive the cathode of the cathode ray tube.

As it will be clear from the above description, the present video amplifier can provide precisely controlled video signals to cathodes of three electron guns for a color television cathode ray tube, especially a Trinitron picture tube. More specifically, the present video amplifier is very simple in construction and easy to operate, and also eliminates the interaction between the contrast and brightness controls.

Although the above description covers a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is known for those skilled in the art to make various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

l. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus for amplifying a video signal having different intensity levels, comprising:

means for interposing black and white reference pulses into the former and latter halves of the horizontal retrace period respectively to be amplified by the video amplifier with the video signal,

sampling means for sampling the peak amplitudes of said black and white reference pulses at the output of the video amplifier, and

control means for controlling the DC level and the gain of the video amplifier according to the outputs from said sampling means.

2. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said black reference pulse has a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the cut-off voltage of each electron gun of a picture tube, and said white reference pulse has a controllable amplitude which changes depending on the setting of a contrast control.

3. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said menasfor interposing said black and white reference pulses includes:

a counter for counting a clock pulse of a given frequency generated upon receiving a horizontal gate pulse,

and three identical current summing circuits for interposing said black and white reference pulses into the horizontal retrace period under control of said counter.

4. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes comparator means for comparing the samples from said sampling means with a controllable reference signal so as to compnesate for differences in electrical characteristics of each electron gun and also of different picture tubes.

5. A video amplifier for a color televisionapparatus for amplifying a video signal having different intensity levels betweenblack and white levels having brightness and contrast controls, comprising:

three identical DC coupled video amplifiers for amplifying three color video signal components at a 3 controllable gain and a fixed quiescent DC level,

a black reference pulse generator for generating a black reference pulse of fixed amplitude corresponding to the cut-off voltage of the electron guns of the picture tube,

current summing means for inserting said black and white reference pulses into the horizontal retrace period to apply said reference pulses together withthe three video signals to said three video amplifiers, and for superimposing the three color video signals with the brightness control signal,

sampling means for sampling said black and white reference pulses transmitted to the output terminl of the video amplifier, and

control means for controlling the DC level and gain of each video amplifier by samples of said black and white reference pulses respectively.

6. A video amplifier according to claim 5, wherein said white reference pulse generator includes a circuit for generating a DC signal corresponding to the amplifirst and second transistors being connected to the video signal, and

third transistor connected in parallel with said first and second transistors.

8. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first and second transistors are turned off while said white reference pulse generator is generating the white reference pulse.

9. A brightness and contrast control circuit for a TV apparatus comprising:

means for controlling the contrast of the TV apparatus,

means for controlling the brightness of the TV apparatus including a pair of signal paths defining resistance means and amplifier means, and means for receiving a control signal relating to said frist mentioned means to provide the control signal to both of said signal paths in a selectable different proportion.

10. A brightness and contrast circuit according to 5 claim 9 wherein said means for receiving a control signal is a potentiometer connected at a movable top thereof to said first mentioned means and at both fixed terminals to said amplifier means and resistance means.

11. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 10 wherein said amplifier means is an operational amplifier including input resistor means, a feedback resistor and output resistor means.

12. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 11 wherein said resistor means are substantially the same resistive value and said brightness control means includes second operational amplifier means whose input is connected to the output terminal of said pair of signal path.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 760 ,099 Dated September 18 1973 Inventor) Victor Kong It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 14, geeen" should read green Column 2.: line 32', 1"iike" should read like Cancel columns 3 through 6 and insert the corrected columns 3 through 10, as part of Letters Patent.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of June 1974.

Attest:

EDWARD M."FLETCHER,JR. & C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents uscomv-ocwovn-pus UJ S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 O36633A.

FORM PO-1050 (10-69) of the screen where no video signal is transmitted and changes depending on the setting of a brightness control. The black reference pulse 11 and the white reference pulse 12 are generated by black and white reference pulse generators respectively whose detailed operation will be made hereinafter together with the circuit thereof referring to FIG. 3.

F IG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. The video amplifier consists of a brightness and contrast control circuit 13, and three identical video output amplifiers 14, 15 and 16 for amplifying three video signal components which are applied to the cathode of red, green and blue electron guns of the cathode ray tube respectively. Only one video output amplifier 14 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. The red, green and blue video signals are applied to terminals 18, 18' and 18 of a current summing circuit 20. A gate pulse derived from a horizontal deflection circuit for the cathode ray tube (not shown) is applied to a terminal 22 for actuating an,

oscillator 24 of conventional design which produces output pulses of, for example, one megahertz in synchronism with th e horizonfal retrace pulse. A counter 26, including a plurality of conventional counter stages, counts pulses produced from the oscillator 24. When the counter 26 counts a predetermined number, a black reference pulse generator 28 produces a gate pulse which will strip out any video signal during the period t2- t4. Duringtheperiodt2t3,a black reference pulse 11 is generated whose amplitude i'ffia'vaiiie regardless of the setting of the brightness and contrast controls. The black reference pulse generator 28 is thenconnected to the current summing circuit 20. V

Following the black reference pulse, a white reference pulse generator 30 produces a white reference pulse- 12 whose amplitude can be controlled by a cont t contro ircuit .512. includ n o exa a staest t r tiometer. The white reference pulse generator 30 is connected t th t rrent su mi Q IQUll 2 A h ness control circuit 34 is connected to the white reference pulse generator 30 for supplying a brightness control DC current to the current summing circuit 20 during the unblanking period. Although the detailed description of the circuit will be made hereinafter referring to FIG. 3, the brightness control signal is automatically controlled by the setting of the contrast 'control 32 because the brightness control range is directly proportional to the setting of the contrast control 32. Thus, this circuit arrangement eliminates the interaction between the contrast control 32 and the brightness control 34.

As it will be clear from FIG. 1, the current summing circuit 20 superimposes the brightness control DC current from the brightness control circuit 34 with each color video signal applied to the terminals 18, 18' and 18 during the unblanking period to-tl and substantially the black reference pulse 11 and the white reference pulse 12 are transmitted during the blanking period tl-t5. It should be noted that these three color video signals are translated in the current summing circuit 20 without any interaction and transmitted to input terminals of the video output amplifiers l4, l and 16 respectively.

The video output amplifiers 14, and 16 are DC A divider 50 is connected to the output terminal 48 for converting signal magnitude at the output terminal 48 into a suitable level. The output from the divider 50 is then connected to samplers '52 and 54 for sampling peak values of the black and white reference pulses 11 and 12 applied thereto when sampling command pulses 57 and 59 are applied from the counter 26 through transmission lines 56 and 58 respectively. As the time duration of the black and the white reference pulses 11 and 12 is each 3 to 4 microseconds, the sampling command pulses 57 and 59 may be generated somewhere between this time duration, for example, one microsecond after the rising portion of the black and white reference pulses 11 and 12. Thus, the circuit configuration ensures obtaining the correct peak values of the black and white reference pulses 11 and 12. Moreover, the time relationship of the reference pulses 11 and 12 and the sampling command pulses 57 and 59 is not critical because of a relatively long time duration of the black and white reference pulses 11 and 12. The samplers 52 and 54 vmay be a transistor or field effect transistor switching circuit in which samples of the black and white reference pulses 11 and 12 are transmitted therethrough when the sampling command pulses 57 and 59 are applied to the control electrode thereof.

These samples from the samplers 52 and 54 are connected to comparators 60 and 64 respectively. Reference voltages for the comparators 60 and 64 are applied via, for example, potentiometers 62 and 66 mounted preferably on the front panel of the monitor apparatus. The comparators'60 and 64 include large energy storage means, for example, a capacitor to I amplitude of the white reference pulse 12 increases by adjusting the contrast control 32 and vice versa. On the other hand, the output from the comparator 64 adjusts the quiescent DC level of the first amplifier 42 so that the quiescent DC level of the output video signal at the output terminal 48 equals -vo in FIG. 1 or the cut-off voltage of the cathode ray tube when the brightness control is set to the pre-set position; the potentiometer 66 compensates for differences in cutoff voltage of each electron gun of the cathode ray tube. The operation of the DC level and the gain control circuit of the present video output amplifiers 14, and 16 will be described in greater detail hereinafter when referring to FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 illustrates a part circuit schematic of one embodiment of the present invention, more specifically the current summing circuit 20 and the associated circuits, wherein similar reference characters refer to like elements. The current summing circuit 20 consists of three identical sections 70, 72 and 74 for processing the red, green and blue color video signals without interaction therebetween. Each section consists of a constant current source 76, 76 and 76" including, for example, a fixed-biased transistor. A pair of current paths are connected to each constant current source which includes a transistor 78 and serially connected transistors 80 and 82. The collectors of the transistors 78 and 82 are connected together and also connected to another current source including a resistor and a voltage source and an output terminal 84. The bases of the transistors 78, 78 and 78 are commonly connected through resistors 86, 86 and 86" whose common junction is connected to a mid point of voltage divider comprising resistors 88 and 90 connected between a negative voltage source and ground. The red, green and blue color video signals are applied respectively to the video input terminals 18, 18 and 18", which are respectively connected to the common junctions of the transistors 80 and 82, 80 and 82' and 80 and 82". A brightness control signal is also connected to the input terminals 18, 18 and 18" via resistors 92, 92' and 92 from the brightness control circuit 34.

For producing the black reference pulse 11 from the current summing circuit 20, the counter 26 applies a negative pulse to the base of a switching transistor 94 through a base resistor 96 to render diodes 98, 98 and 98" connected to the common junctions of the transistors 80 and 82, 80' and 82 and 80 and 82 conductive. Also, the same negative pulse from the counter 26 is applied to a voltage divider network comprising resistors 100, 102 and 104 connected between a negative voltage source and a positive voltage source. The bases of the transistors 80, 80 and 80 are commonly connected to the common junction of the resistors 102 and 104, and the bases of the transistors 82, 82 and 82" are commonly connected together through resistors 106, 106 and 106 respectively and these, in turn, are connected to the midpoint of a resistor 108 and a diode-connected transistor 110 connected between a positive voltage source and ground. Therefore, the transistors 80, 80 and 80 and 82, 82 and 82" are all nonconductive under this condition while the transistors 78, 78 and 78 remain conductive. The output current flowing through the output terminals 48, 48" and 48" will be the subtraction of the current sources 76, 76 and 76" from the current sources 83, 83 and 83 respectively,

which determine thehl ck retere e t heoutput terminals 48, 48 and 48.

However. in the next instance when the counter 26 provides a positive pulse to the contrast control circuit 32 while applying the negative pulse to the common junction of resistors 96, 100 and 102, diodes 112,112 and 112" are rendered nonconductive.

The contrast control circuit 32 includes four transistors 114, 114', 114 and 116 whose emitters are commonly connected through resistors 118, 118', 118" and 120. The common junction of the resistors 118, 118, 118" and 120 is returned to a positive voltage source 122 through a fixed resistor 124 and a contrast pre-set variable resistor 126. The bases of the transistors 114, 114, 114 and 116 are directly connected together and returned to a negative voltage source through a bias resistor 128. Fixed terminals of a contrast control potentiometer are connected between the positive voltage source 122 and the emitter of a collector-grounded transistor amplifier 132. The movable tap of the potentiometer 132 is also connected to the common junction of the resista s 1.1.8. 1 3. 185. d, 2" through a wit h which is open when the movable tap of the potentiometer 130 is at the top position or a contrast pre-set position. A resistor 136 is connected between the movable tap of the potentiometer 130 and a suitable negative voltage source 138. The emitter of the transistor 132 is connected to the bases of the transistors 114, 114, 114 and 116 through a'voltage divider 140 and 142 and a diode 144, and the base thereof is connected to a bias circuit comprising resistors 146 and 148 through diode 150. v

As the counter 26 normally provides a negative voltage to the diodes 112, 112 and 112", these diodes clamp the emitter voltages of the transistors 114, 114 and 114 such that they remain nonconducting. However, when a positive pulse is applied to the diodes 112, 112 and 112" during the latter half of the horizontal blanking period or t3-t4, this renders the transistors 114, 114 and 114 conductive. Because the collectors of the transistors 114, 114 and 114 are respectively connected to the output terminals 84, 84 and 84, the output current flowing through the output terminals 84, 84 and 84" increase by the collector current therethrough. By adjusting the contrast con trol potentiometer 130, the current of the transistors 114, 114 114" and 116 changes equally to produce the white reference pulse 12 of different amplitude at the qumutt l. 48. t amr r .4.1,.ians1 .16-

The potentiometer 130 changes linearly inresistance relative to the position of the movable tap thereof; however, as the gain of the video amplifier of this type should be changed nonlinearly relative to the magnitude of the white reference pulse, the resistor 136 mainly provides this nonlinear operation of the contrast control circuit 32. When the switch 134 is open or at the pre-set position, the pres et variable resistor 126 determines the current flowing through the transistors 114, 114, 114 and 116 at the optimum level by varying resistance thereof.

The brightness control range is a direct function of the contrast control. Accordingly, the brightness control current should preferably be varied depending on the setting of the contrast control potentiometer 130 of the contrast control circuit 32 in order to eliminate the troublesome interaction between the brightness and contrast controls. The transistor 116, whose output current is proportional to the other three transistors 114, 114' and 114", provides this function. As described hereinafter, the collector of the transistor 116 is connected to ground through a load resistor 152 and also a movable tap of a bright ness control potentiometer 154.

When the retrace period is over, the counter 26 applies a positive pulse to the common junction of the resistors 96, 100 and 102 and alsoa negative pulse to the diodes 112, 112 and 112". Thus, the transistors 80, 80', 80", 82, 82' and 82 are rendered conductive and the transistors 114, 114' and 114" nonconductive. The transistors 78, 78' and 78 become also nonconductive. Therefore, the video signals superimposed with the brightness control DC current are applied to the input terminals 18, 18 and 18 of the current summing circuit 20. When the sums of the video input signals and the brightness control DC current applied to the input terminals 18, 18 and 18" exceed the capacity of the current sources 76, 76 ,and 76 output signals represenLatiye thereof occur at output termi-' nals 84, 84 and 84.

The brightness controlcircuit34 includes a potefi t i-g' ometer 154 whose movable tap is connected to the common junction of the resistor 152 and the collector I of the transistor '116,'a resistor 156 connected between one fixed terminal of the potentiometer 154 and a terminal 158 and an inverter amplifier 160 connected between another fixed terminal of the potentiometer 154 and the terminal 158 through an input resistor 162 and an output resistor 164. The inverter-amplifier 160 also includes a feedback resistor 166. In this particular example, the resistors 156, 162, 164 and 166 and the potentiometer 154 have the same resistive value.

The terminal 158 is connected to aninput terminal of an operational amplifier 168 including'a feedback resistor 170. The input impedance of the operational amplifier 168 is so small that the input current of the operational amplifier 168 v is supplied through two current paths consisting of the resistor 156 and the inverter amplifier 160. The current flowing through these two current paths depends on the voltage developed across the resistor 152 and also the position of the movable tap of the brightness control potentiometer 154. Assuming that upper and lower resistive values of the potentiometer 154 are respectively 154a and 154b and that the voltage across the resistor 152 is the V, the current through the resistors 154b and 156 is V/(R156 Rl 4b); on the other hand, the current through the resistor 164 is R166XV/(R162 R154a)R164. Thus. the overall input current to the operational amplifier 168 is zero if the movable tap of the potentiometer 154 is at the center position.

- Because of the interconnection between the contrast control and the brightness control circuits through the transistor 116 and the resistor 152, there is no cumbersome interaction between the contrast and brightness- As described above, the power consumption of the.

present circuit can be reduced significantly because all of the transistors 78, 78', 78", 80, 80, 80", 82, 82, 82, 114, 114' and 114" do not conduct simultaneously.

The AGC circuit 40 consists of a pair of diodes 172 and 174 whose anodes are coupled together with each other to the output terminal 84 of the current summing circuit 20. The diode 172 is connected to the input terminal of the first amplifier 42 and the diode 174 is connected to ground. The output video signal from the current summing circuit 20 and the output from the comparator are connected to the common junction'of the diodes 172 and 174 directly and through a resistor 176 respectively. The first amplifier 42 includes, for ex ample, three DC coupled transistors 178, 180 and 182. The first amplifier 42 is a high open loop gain amplifier having a negative feedback resistor 184 connected between the collector of the transistor 180 and the emitter of the transistor 178. The emitter and collector of the transistor 178 are connected to resistors 186 and 188 respectively. The collector of the transistor 180 is connected to a suitable positive voltage source through a resistor 190. The collector of the grounded base transistor 182 is connected to an output terminal of the first amplifier 42 through a resistor 192.

The output from the comparator 64 is connected to the base of the transistor 178, and the base thereof is also returned to ground through seiially-connected resistor 194 and diode 196. The common connection of the resistor 1 94 and the diode 196 is also connected to the output comparator 60 through a resistor 198 which is the same as the resistor 176. This ensures the correct operation of the first amplifier 42 so that the background signal level or the brightness remains unchanged while changing the contrast of the reproduced picture. Similarly, a pair of identical diodes should be used for the diodes 172 and 174. The output from the collector ofthe transistor 182 is then applied to the second amplifier 46 through the current limiter 44.

As the first amplifier 42 is a negative feedback amplifier, the current through the diode 172 is maintained at a substantially constant value. Thus, the resistance of the diode 172 is a constant value. On the other hand,

the resistance of the diode 174 varies by the current -the output voltage to therethrough mainly supplied from the comparator 60. If a gain control current from'the comparator 60 increases by adjusting the contrast control potentiometer 130 in FIG. 3, the resistance of the diode 174 decreases and bypasses-the signal current from the trolled video signals to cathodesof three electron guns FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of one preferred embodiment of the DC level and gain control circuit.

for a color television cathode ray tube, especially a Trinitron picture tube. More specifically, the present vfileoarriplrfier is very simplein construction and easy to operate, and also eliminates the interaction between thecontrast and brightness controls.

7 Amiough the above description covers a preferred emfidiment of the present invaitioifit is kno'wfifor those skilled in the art to make various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus for amplifying a video signal having different intensity control means for controlling the DC level and the gain of the video amplifier according to the outputs from said sampling means.

2. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said'black reference pulse has a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the cut-off voltage of each electron gun of a picture tube, and said white reference pulse has a controllable amplitude which changes depending on the setting of a contrast control.

3. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said means for interposing said black and white reference pulses includes:

a counter for counting a clock pulse of a given frequency generated upon receiving a horizontal gate pulse,

and three identical current .summing circuits for interposing said black and white reference pulses into the horizontal retrace period under control of said counter. v

4. A video amplifier according to claim l wherein said control meansincludes comparator means for comparing the samples from said sampling means with a controllable reference signal so as to compensate for differences in electrical characteristics of each electron gun and also of different picture tubes.

5. A video amplifier for a color televisionapparatus for amplifying a video signal having different intensity levels between black and white levels having brightness and contrast controls, comprising: I

three identical DC coupled video amplifiers for amplifying three color video signal components at a controllable gain and a fixed quiescent DC level,

a white reference pulse generator for generating a white reference pulse whose amplitude varies depending on the setting of the contrast control,

ablack reference pulse generator for generating a black reference pulse of fixed amplitude corresponding to the cut-off voltage of the electron gunsof the picture tube,

sampling means for sampling said black and white reference pulses transmitted to the output terminal of the video amplifier, and

control means for controlling the DC level and gain of each video amplifier by samples of said black and white reference pulses respectively.

6. A video amplifier according to claim 5, wherein said white reference pulse generator includes a circuit for generating a DC signal corresponding to the amplitude of said white reference pulse, which is applied to the brightness control in order to eliminate the interaction between the'contrast and brightness controls, controlling the brightness control range.

7. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus according to claim 5, said current summing means, comprising:

a current source,

first and second transistors connected in series between said current source and said white reference pulse generator, the common junction of said first and second transistors being connected to the video signal, and thirditransistor connected in parallel with said first and second transistors.

8. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first and second transistors are turned off while said white reference pulse generator is, generating the white reference pulse.

9. A brightness apparatus comprising:

means for controlling the'contrast of the TV apparatus, means for controlling the-brightness of the TV apparatus including a pair of signal paths defining resistance means and amplifier means, and means for receiving a control signal relating to said first. mentioned means to provide the control signal to both of said signal paths in a selectable different proporTiHr 10. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 9 wherein said means for receiving a control signal is a potentiometer connected at a movable top thereof to said first mentioned means and at both fixed terminals to said amplifier means and resistance means;

11. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 10 wherein said amplifier means is an operat i onal amplifier including input resistor means, a feedcurrent summing means for inserting said black and white reference pulses into the horizontal retrace period to apply said reference pulses together with the three video signals to said three video amplifiers, and for superimposing the three color video signals with the brightness control signal.

back resistor and output resistor means. 7

12. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 11 wherein said resistor means are substantially the same resistive value and said brightness control jsaid Ff of signal paths,

whose input is connected to the output terminal of and contrast control circuit for a 

1. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus for amplifying a video signal having different intensity levels, comprising: means for interposing black and white reference pulses into the former and latter halves of the horizontal retrace period respectively to be amplified by the video amplifier with the video signal, sampling means for sampling the peak amplitudes of said black and white reference pulses at the output of the video amplifier, and control means for controlling the DC level and the gain of the video amplifier according to the outputs from said sampling means.
 2. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said black reference pulse has a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the cut-off voltage of each electron gun of a picture tube, and said white reference pulse has a controllable amplitude which changes depending on the setting of a contrast control.
 3. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said means for interposing said black and white reference pulses includes: a counter for counting a clock pulse of a given frequency generated upon receiving a horizontal gate pulse, and three identical current summing circuits for interposing said black and white reference pulses into the horizontal retrace period under control of said counter.
 4. A video amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes comparator means for comparing the samples from said sampling means with a controllable reference signal so as to compensate for differences in electrical characteristics of each electron gun and also of different picture tubes.
 5. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus for amplifying a video signal having different intensity levels between black and white levels having brightness and contrast controls, comprising: three identical DC coupled video amplifiers for amplifying three color video signal components at a controllable gain and a fixed quiescent DC level, a white reference pulse generator for generating a white reference pulse whose amplitude varies depending on the setting of the contrast control, a black reference pulse generator for generating a black reference pulse of fixed amplitude corresponding to the cut-off voltage of the electron guns of the picture tube, current summing means for inserting said black and white reference pulses into the horizontal retrace period to apply said reference pulses together with the three video signals to said three video amplifiers, and for superimposing the three color video signals with the brightness control signal, sampling means for sampling said black and white reference pulses transmitted to the output terminl of the video amplifier, and control means for controlling the DC level and gain of each video amplifier by samples of said black and white reference pulses respectively.
 6. A video amplifier according to claim 5, wherein said white reference pulse generator includes a circuit for generating a DC signal corresponding to the amplitude of said white reference pulse, which is applied to the brightness control in order to eliminate the interaction between the contrast and brightness controls, controlling the brightness control range.
 7. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus according to claim 5, said current summing means, comprising: a current source, first and second transistors connected in series between said current source and said white reference pulse generator, the common junction of said first and second transistors being connected to the video signal, and third transistor connected in parallel with said first and secoNd transistors.
 8. A video amplifier for a color television apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first and second transistors are turned off while said white reference pulse generator is generating the white reference pulse.
 9. A brightness and contrast control circuit for a TV apparatus comprising: means for controlling the contrast of the TV apparatus, means for controlling the brightness of the TV apparatus including a pair of signal paths defining resistance means and amplifier means, and means for receiving a control signal relating to said frist mentioned means to provide the control signal to both of said signal paths in a selectable different proportion.
 10. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 9 wherein said means for receiving a control signal is a potentiometer connected at a movable top thereof to said first mentioned means and at both fixed terminals to said amplifier means and resistance means.
 11. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 10 wherein said amplifier means is an operational amplifier including input resistor means, a feedback resistor and output resistor means.
 12. A brightness and contrast circuit according to claim 11 wherein said resistor means are substantially the same resistive value and said brightness control means includes second operational amplifier means whose input is connected to the input terminal of said pair of signal path. 